Kivumbini Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru Town East is staring a possible shutdown after no student has been enrolled for grade 10 for the transition exercise to senior school, which began on Monday this week.
The school, which has a well-structured learning infrastructure, is categorised as C4 under the Competency Based Education and has a capacity of 600 learners, with only 100 students currently in school and more than ten TSC teachers who have been left idle and relaxed. Shockingly, the school has only four form fours.
Residents of Kivumbini have cited insecurity and crime as the major reasons for low enrolment. Situated in an informal settlement kivumbini area has often grappled with insecurity issues with gang-related groups such as the notorious Confirm operating in the area.
‘The gangs operating in the area include confirm. Children may be harmed on their way to or from school. Some of these gangs may even recruit them,’ a resident said.
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Last year, during the Jukwaa la Usalama Nakuru edition, the CS of interior Kipchumba Murkomen, expressed concern over a growing crime rate in the city and pledged to end it. However, this has not been achieved with the gangs still terrorising the community.
‘We’ve made progress elsewhere .its time Nakuru joins the list, said the CS
Consequently, the dire situation at Kivumbini Secondary has attracted Nakuru County education stakeholders who convened a meeting to discuss the crisis. The meeting was chaired by the Nakuru town east legislature David Gikaria. Also present was Kivumbini member of the county assembly, Sakwa Neto and the area deputy county commissioner. Nakuru County director of education, teachers and parents were also present.
From the meeting outcome, the name of the school was suggested to be changed to Nakuru Mixed Senior School for a fresh start.
‘The name Kivumbini carries negative historical connotations that discourage families from enrolling their children here. To attract more learners, the ministry has announced that students will not pay fees, ‘The county Director of education said.
The County Director of Education, Victoria Mulili, also persuaded students who had transferred to other schools to return.
‘ The ministry has engaged principals of neighbouring schools, including Afraha secondary, Langalanga and Flamingo, to release students who transferred from Kivumbini and help stabilise enrollment’she said
Notably, the area MP, Gikaria, affirmed that residents of Kivumbini would save the school and promised aid to learners.
‘It is unfortunate that such a well-equipped school is lying idle while qualified teachers are ready to work. We are holding meetings and exploring ways to rescue the school’ he said
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‘My office is also ready to support learners joining the school through bursary and any other assistance, he added.
Efforts to establish the root cause of low-grade 10 enrolment have already begun with the deployment of education officers to the community. The exercise, which is led by the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, Abdi Hassan, is expected to establish the root cause of the deserted school.
‘We want to understand why the school is underutilised and take the necessary steps,’ Hassan said.
This happens even as other school faces similar situation with learners opting for other schools mainly because of distance and performance.
By Vicky Kiptoo
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